The regular meeting of the Northport City Council convened at 6:00 p.m. on June 15, 2015, at the Northport City Hall, located at 3500 McFarland Blvd. The invocation was offered by Mayor Herndon. President Logan led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. Upon roll call, the following were found to be present: President Logan, Councilwoman Hayes, Councilman Sullivan, Pro Tem Acker, and Councilman Harper. Also present were City Administrator Scott Collins and Mayor Bobby Herndon. Mayor Herndon presented a proclamation to Ms. Jennifer Estes Agee with NHS Management, LLC for the June business of the month. Mayor Herndon announced that the Inaugural Fiddle Fest took place recently and a few of the organizers were present and would like to address the council. Mr. Glen Taylor, with the Black Warrior Fiddle Committee came before Council to thank them for allowing the Inaugural Fiddle Fest to take place in Northport, and said he hopes he can count on their support in the future. He also wanted to especially thank Ms. Julie Ramm, Mr. Heath Smitherman, and Mr. Joey Olive for their help. Ms. Sharon Bounds with the Black Warrior Fiddle Committee came before Council to thank them for allowing them the opportunity to have this event in Northport. Ms. Bounds, Miss Meredith Hudson, Mr. Dick Miles, and Mr. Glen Taylor performed for everyone. Motion by President Logan, Second by Councilman Harper to approve the agenda for the June 15, 2015 Council Meeting. Roll call vote was as follows: President Logan, Yes; Councilman Harper, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Pro Tem Acker, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. Motion by Pro Tem Acker, Second by Councilman Sullivan to approve Ordinance 1870 annexing approximately 3.09 acres of land located at 6085 Highway 69 N. Roll call vote was as follows: Pro Tem Acker, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Councilman Harper, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes; President Logan, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. Motion by Councilman Harper, Second by Councilman Sullivan to approve Ordinance 1871 authorizing the Conditional Use Approval for a pre-school in a Residential Zone. Roll call vote was as follows: Councilman Harper, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Pro Tem Acker, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes; President Logan, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. Motion by President Logan, Second by Councilman Harper to approve Resolution 1527 declaring certain items as surplus and authorizing their disposal. Roll call vote was as follows: President Logan, Yes; Councilman Harper, Yes; Pro Tem Acker, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. Councilwoman Hayes asked if section 8a “Ordinances and Resolutions of a Permanent Nature” on the agenda was skipped. President Logan stated that there was no item listed on the agenda under that section. Councilwoman Hayes commented that she would like to add something to the agenda under this section. There was discussion and President Logan urged Councilwoman Hayes to add this item under her business on the agenda. Councilwoman Hayes asked if it would be voted on if she discussed it under her business. President Logan explained that it would be at the discretion of the council. For clarification about the vote, City Administrator Collins explained that under this particular section of the agenda, an Ordinance and Resolution of a permanent nature requires a 1st Reading, and 2nd Reading with a vote, unless the rules are suspended, and then the 1st and 2nd Reading and the vote takes place at the same meeting. He said depending on the nature of the item to be added, it may or may not be appropriate to be added under this section. Councilwoman Hayes declined to add it to the agenda under her business and said that she could add it under the consent agenda items. City Administrator Collins explained that, not knowing the nature of the item, to be procedurally appropriate, the action would be to bring this item up under her business. Councilwoman Hayes revealed that the item to be added is concerning the necessary abatement of asbestos at the Shirley Place. She said this was discussed in the
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pre-meeting with City Administrator Collins, and he said the process would begin in two (2) weeks and she wanted this to be recorded in the minutes. City Attorney Ron Davis expressed to Councilwoman Hayes that this item would not be considered a resolution of a permanent nature and would not be appropriate to be added under this section. Therefore, the item should be taken up under her business on the agenda. President Logan urged Councilwoman Hayes to discuss this item under her business on the agenda. Councilwoman Hayes said that she has already discussed this with City Administrator Collins in the pre-council meeting and that he agreed to begin the bidding process for the Shirley Place in two (2) weeks and she wanted that on the record. City Administrator Collins said he understands that there is no vote to take place and that Councilwoman Hayes has requested that it be a matter of the minutes, that she has requested this item take place within two (2) weeks. He said for the purpose of tonight’s meeting, this request has been noted and her comments will be reflected in the minutes of this meeting and no further action would be required regarding this matter. Motion by Councilman Sullivan, Second by Councilwoman Hayes to approve Resolution 15-28 endorsing the efforts of Tuscaloosa Citizens Against Predatory Practices to have the interest rates on short term loans capped at 36% APR in the State of Alabama. Roll call vote was as follows: Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes; Councilman Harper, Yes; Pro Tem Acker, Yes; President Logan, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. Motion by Pro Tem Acker, Second by Councilman Harper to approve Resolution 15-29 ratifying the Bolta Agreement. Roll call vote was as follows: Pro Tem Acker, Yes; Councilman Harper, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes; President Logan, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. Motion by Councilman Harper, Second by Councilman Sullivan to approve Resolution 15-30 awarding the Process Residuals Removal and Disposal for the Northport Water Treatment Plant to Merrell Brothers, Inc. in the amount of $194,770.00 and to authorize the City Administrator to execute the necessary documents and requisitions needed to proceed with this project. Roll call vote was as follows: Councilman Harper, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes; Pro Tem Acker, Yes; President Logan, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. Motion by President Logan, Second by Councilman Sullivan to approve Resolution 1531 awarding Bid File 15-05 for a High Pressure Breathing Air Compressor System to NAFECO, the low bidder meeting specifications as attached on the bid tabulation and to authorize the City Administrator to approve all necessary documents, including purchase orders. Roll call vote was as follows: President Logan, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Pro Tem Acker, Yes; Councilman Harper, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. Motion by President Logan, Second by Pro Tem Acker, to approve the Consent Agenda for the June 15, 2015, Council Meeting. Consent Agenda 1. Minutes, May 18, 2015, Regular Meeting 2. Bill Listing 3. Travel/Training, 3 employees, Fire Dept. Admin. Investigations & FF Discipline Seminar, Aug. 31st – Sept. 1st, Hoover, AL, PATC, $885 FD 4. PO Requisition, Fire Hydrants, Empire Pipe, $8,113.62 - Utilities 5. Travel/Training, 1 employee, 2015 Alabama Assoc. of Chiefs of Police Summer Conf., Aug. 3rd-5th, Orange Beach, AL $762.77 - PD
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6. Travel/Training, 2 employees, Basic Narcotics Investigation School, Aug. 17th – 28th, Birmingham, AL $0 - PD 7. Travel/Training, 1 employee, Practical Kinesic Interview and Interrogation, July 28th – 30th, Columbiana, AL $295 – PD 8. Travel/Training, 2 employees, AAPPA Payroll Process Course, June 5th & July 17th, Auburn, AL $210 – HR 9. Travel/Training, 1 employee, ASCE/AWPA Joint Conference, July 27-29th, Orange Beach, AL $1,400 Utilities 10. Travel/Training, 1 employee, American Water Works Assoc., Annual Conference, Biloxi, MS $1,025.84 – Utilities 11. PO Requisition, WTP Security Upgrades, ADS, $11,231.00 – Utilities 12. PO Requisition, Admin Replacement/New Computers, Dell, $5,783.46 – IT 13. PO Requisition, Replace Voice Mail Server, J&J Telephone, $5,800 – IT 14. Travel/Training, 1 employee, Investigating Sex Crimes, Columbiana, AL Aug. 24-25th, $295 – PD 15. Travel/Training, 1 employee Domestic Terrorism Training, Oxford, AL Sept. 10th, $0 – PD 16. Travel/Training, 4 employees Leadership Development Courses, Florence, AL, July 16th, $276 – PD 17. Travel/Training, 1 employee, SSGT Instructor Recertification, Tuscaloosa, AL, Sept. 16-23rd, $0 – PD 18. Travel/Training, 4 employees, ARWA Wastewater Continuing Education Class, Livingston, AL July 22nd, $0 – Utilities 19. Travel/Training, 3 employees, Leadership Training, Florence, AL $616.00 - Admin Roll call vote was as follows: President Logan, Yes; Pro Tem Acker, Yes; Councilman Harper, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. City Administrator’s Business: Motion by Pro Tem Acker, Second by Councilman Harper to allow the use of Kentuck Park on August 15, 2015 for the West Alabama High School Bass Fishing Championship weigh-in event. Roll call vote was as follows: Pro Tem Acker, Yes; Councilman Harper, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes; President Logan, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. Motion by Councilman Harper, Second by Councilman Sullivan to move the July 6th council meeting to Monday, July 13th, due to the July 4th Holiday. Roll call vote was as follows: Councilman Harper, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Pro Tem Acker, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes; President Logan, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. Public Comment: Mr. Dennis Hambright, 5109 Azalea Trail came before Council to discuss the recent Fiddle Fest at Kentuck Park. He said this was a great event for Northport; however, the restrooms were out of order. He said he didn’t realize this was an on-going problem until this event, and asked the Council to seek a solution to this problem especially with large events such as the Kentuck Festival taking place there. Mr. Kenneth Walters, 4813 Allums Avenue, came before Council to discuss Shirley Place. He asked if the Shirley Foundation moved ownership of the Shirley Place back to the city, and if the funds were given back to the city as well. City Administrator Collins confirmed this and said the city has control of the Shirley Place, and the funds were remitted back to the city. Mr. Walters suggested to Councilwoman Hayes that she make a motion to donate the Shirley House to the Northport Historical Commission.
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He said there are other issues to be addressed in District 1 besides the Shirley House. He also said that he is pleased that the city hired a full time attorney and suggested that Assistant Police Chief Burton be promoted to Police Chief. Mayor & Council Member’s Business: Councilwoman Hayes, District 1, said her constituents want the Shirley House, otherwise she would not continue to bring it up and spend her time working on it. She stated that her constituents are demanding that something be done, and that the house be open at Christmas during Dickens Downtown. She said it is her job to represent her district and she will continue to do that until they ask her otherwise. President Logan, District 2, reminded everyone that the Riverside High School Class of 1965 along with the Tuscaloosa Training School will be having their bi-annual celebration beginning on June 25th through June 27th. He said the parade will take place on June 27th, beginning at 8:30 at the Riverside Jr. High School. President Logan expressed his appreciation to the organizers of the Fiddle Fest. President Logan asked that Mr. Robert “Bob” Way be re-appointed to the DCH Healthcare Authority Board of Directors. Motion by President Logan, Second by Councilman Sullivan to approve Resolution 1532 re-appointing Mr. Robert “Bob” Way to the DCH Healthcare Authority Board of Directors. Roll call vote was as follows: President Logan, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Pro Tem Acker, Yes; Councilman Harper, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. Councilman Sullivan, District 3, thanked Chief Marshall and Chief Burton, and everyone involved in the recent Safety Fair. He said it was a success and he looks forward to the event next year. President Pro Tem Acker, District 4, none Councilman Harper, District 5, none Mayor Herndon, thanked the organizers of the Fiddle Fest. He invited everyone to attend the Fire Station No. 2 dedication and 50 year celebration which will take place on Thursday, June 18th at 10:00 am. He thanked everyone for continuing to shop in Northport and said the sales tax is up 4% from last year. He also thanked the city employees for doing a great job. Motion by President Logan, Second by Councilman Harper, to approve the Executive Session lasting approximately 30 minutes to discuss property and potential litigation and to return at approximately 7:15 pm. Roll call vote was as follows: President Logan, Yes; Councilman Harper, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes; Pro Tem Acker, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously. The Council reconvened at 7:13. Motion by President Logan, Second by Pro Tem Acker to adjourn the meeting. Roll call vote was as follows: President Logan, Yes; Pro Tem Acker, Yes; Councilman Harper, Yes; Councilwoman Hayes, Yes; Councilman Sullivan, Yes. Motion Carried Unanimously.
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There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:13 p.m. ______________________ Jay Logan, President
ATTEST:
___________________________ Scott Collins, City Administrator